Signaling mechanism for telephone-exchange systems



I (No Model.) 1 2' Sheets-Sheet 1.

I G. W. G'OY.

SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS.

" No.265,028. Patented Se t-26,1882...

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G. W. (JOY. SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONE EXGHANGE SYSTEMS.

No. 265,028. Patented Sept. 26, 1882.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT Cr ics;

GEORGE W. COY, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,028, dated September 26, 1.882.

Application filed May 3, 1882. (No model.)

' exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is diagram representing a telephoneexchange system embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram,showingamodified form of my invention; and Figs. 3 and at are views illustrating different forms of annunciator. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line as as, Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line y 1 Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

My invention relates to improvements in telephone-exchange systems, and has for its object to improve the ,mea'ii's'" employed fortransmitting signals to and from a central station.

To this end the invention consists primarily in the combination of a series of subscribers stations centering at a central station, and each containingarelay, with signaling devices in a local circuit operated by the relay, and switch devices for" connecting any two subscribers circuits for oral communication.

It further consists of a series of subscribers circuits centering at a central station, and each containing a relay, with signaling devices in the local circuit operated by the relay, and means for transmitting outgoing signals over the subscribers lines without disturbing the signal-receiving devices at the central station and it further consists in the several combinations and sub-combinations, which I will hereinafter describe, and point out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a simple form of switch-board forming part of the equipment of a central station in a telephone system, and consisting of a series of conducting-strips, a, and another series of conducting-strips, b, arranged at right angles thereto, but not in electrical contact therewith.

1 2 3 4 represent a series of subscribers lines centering-at the central station, and each connected to a separate conducting-strip, a, of the switch-board. Perforationscare madethrough the strips a and b attheir points of intersection, and into these perforations conducting plugs or pegs (Z are adapted to be inserted, so as to con meet any two strips a, with a common strip, 1), and thus put any two subscribers circuits into connection for oral communication, or so as to connect any strip a with the bottom strip, b, for the purpose of sending an outgoing signal to the subscriber so connected by means of a signaling-key, e, or other signaling mechanism connected to said bottom strip, b, and grounded through a battery, f.

g g, 850., represent one series, and g g, &c., another series, of conducting-plates arranged in front of the strips a, and adapted to be electrically connected to such strip by other conducting-plugs similar to cl. A line, h, containing a relay, i, is connected to each of the conducting-plates g, and is grounded through a battery, It.

m represents a local circuit, containing a battery, it, a call-bell, 0, and having several branches, p p p 19, each of which contains an annunciator, q, a connection to one of the line-strips a, a plug, a conducting-plate g, and the armature r of one of the several relays 2'.

Each subscribers station on the several circuits is provided with a call-bell, s, a signalingkey, t, and a grounded telephone, a, with switch devices 22 for connecting in or cutting out the telephone. The signaling-key e, at the central station, is normally open, and in that position connects in a grounded'telephone, to.

In the normal condition of the apparatus of the system the telephones at the subscribers.

stations are all cutout, and the conductingstrips to at the central station are in electrical connection by means of the conducting'plugs with the conducting-plates g and g. When, now, any subscriber on either of the subscribers circuits 1, 2, 3, or 4 wishes to be put in oral communication with any subscriber on either of the other circuits he breaks his circuit one or more times by means of his 'signalcircuit through the branch 1), for example, causing the annunciator in that branch to drop and the bell to be rung. If it is desired that the bell should not be rung, it can be cut out by simply turning a switch,j, to contact j. The operator at the central station having been apprised over which circuit .the call has been made, first removes the plug from conducting-plate g, and then inserts it so as to connect the line-strip a withthe bottom strip, b, thus connecting in his telephone to, after which he removes the plug from the appropriate conducting-plate 9, so as to rupture the local circuit. Learning through his telephone with what other subscriber the person calling wishes to be put into communication, the central operator then removes the'plug which connects him to the subscriber calling, and

after removing the plug which connects the plate g to the line-strip in the circuit of the subscriber to be called he places himself into connection with the latter subscriber by connectin gthe bottom strip, 11, with the appropriate line-strip, and then with his signaling-key calls the subscriber up, and, receiving a response through his telephone connects up the two subscribers, as will be readily understood. The conversation between the subscribers having ended, the apparatus is returned to its central station to make back eon tact'and shunt.

the line-battery into the local circuit.

If desired, the armature of the relay may itself act as an annunciator-drop, and, by dropping, not only close the local circuit, but also expose a number on its outturned face. Figs. 3 and 4 show arrangements embodying this idea. In Fig. 3 the armature n itself consti tutes the annunciator-drop, and when released by the demagnetization of the relay-core falls and makes contact at m, and shunts the linebattery or a local battery into a local circuit including a call-bell, while in Fig. 4 the annunciator-drop is made separate from the armature, but held normally elevated by a hook, 0, on the end of the armature-lever.

While I have hereinabove shown and described a specific form of switch for a central office and one signaling-key thereat for all the lines and each circuit normally charged, it is evident that any of the well-known forms of switches for central stations may be employed, and also that the subscribers circuits may be normally uncharged and the relays made to respond to currents generated at the outlying ries of subscribers circuits centering at a central station and each containing a relay with signaling devices in a local circuit operated by the relay and switch devices for connecting any two subscribers circuits for oral communication.

2. In a telephone system, the combination, substantially as described, at a central station, of a series of subscribers circuits centering thereat and each containing a relay with signaling devices in a local circuit operated by the relay and means for transmitting outgoing signals over the subscribers lines withoutdisturbing the signaling devices at the central station.

3. In a telephone-exchange system,-the combination, substantially as described, at a central station, of a series of subscribers circuits centering thereat and each containing a relay with signaling devices in a local circuit operated by the relays, means for transmitting outgoing signals over the subscribers circuits without disturbing the localsignalin g devices, and switch devices for connecting any two subscribers circuits for oral communication.

4. In a telephone-exchange, the combination, substantially as described, at a central station, of a series of subscribers circuits centering thereat and each containing a relay with annuncia'tors in a local circuit-one foreach subscribers circuit-and means for closing thelocal circuit by the operation of any one of the several relays, so as to operate the appropriate annunciator.

5. In a telephone-exchange system, the combination, substantially as described, at a central station, of a series of subscribers circuits centering thereat and each containing a relay with a local circuit containing an annunciator for each subscribers circuit and a call-bell common to all the subscribers circuits and means for closing the local circuit by the operation of no any one of the several relays, so as to operate the appropriate annunciator and sound the containing its relay, to close the local circuit and shunt the battery into thesamc.

7. In a telephone-exchange system, the combination, substantially as described at a cen- I operate the appropriate annuneiator'and sound tral station, of a series ofsubscribers lines centhe bell, and switch devices for cutting out the 10 I tering thereat and each containing a relay bell, when desired, Without disturbing the anwith a local circuit containing an annunciator nunciators.

for each subscribers circuit, and a call-bell I GEORGE W. (JOY. common to all the subscribers circuits, and Witnesses: meansfor closing the local circuit by the oper- CHAS. E. BUELL,

ation of any one of the several relays, so as to FRED F. CHURCH. 

